System and method for acquiring a received signal in a spread spectrum device

ABSTRACT

A spread spectrum wireless device ( 100 ) may include a receiver ( 110 ), a searcher ( 128 ), a search controller ( 130 ) and other features. The search controller ( 130 ) selectively generates control signals to control the searcher ( 128 ), which searches for a spread-spectrum signal. In one embodiment, the architecture of the searcher ( 128 ) is dynamically configurable by the search controller ( 130 ) to selectively search multiple channels using multiple frequency bins for the signal.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.09/941,362, filed Aug. 28, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,580,746. Thisapplication claims the benefit of provisional 60/282,604 filed on Apr.9, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed generally to a wireless spreadspectrum device, and, more particularly, to a system and method foracquiring a received signal in a wireless spread spectrum device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Spread spectrum modulation, including code division multiple access(CDMA) modulation, is one of several techniques for allowing a largenumber of system users to share a communication system. Other multipleaccess techniques include time division multiple access (TDMA) andfrequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems. There are also analogfrequency modulation (FM) based wireless communication systems, such asthe Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS). In addition, many wirelesscommunication devices employ global position system (GPS) techniques.Some wireless communication systems are capable of operating usingmultiple techniques, such as CDMA and GPS, or on different frequencybands, such as cellular or Personal Communication Services (PCS) bands.

To simplify the discussion, the background of the invention will focuson CDMA modulation techniques in a wireless communication system. Theprinciples discussed, however, are generally applicable to anyspread-spectrum system. CDMA modulation techniques are disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 4,901,307, issued on Feb. 13, 1990, entitled “SPREAD SPECTRUMMULTIPLE ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING SATELLITE OR TERRESTRIALREPEATERS”, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention,and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Theabove-referenced patent discloses the use of a phase-coherent andchip-synchronous chip sequence that is defined as a pilot chip sequence,or pilot signal. The pilot signal can be used to provide phase and timeacquisition and tracking, and multi-path correction.

Methods for acquiring signals are disclosed in the above-referencedpatent and in the following patents: (1) U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,543, issuedon Jul. 14, 1998 and entitled “POWER-EFFICIENT ACQUISITION OF A CDMAPILOT SIGNAL”; and (2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,805,648, issued on Sep. 8, 1998and entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING SEARCH ACQUISITION INA CDMA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”, both of which are assigned to the assigneeof the present invention and the disclosures thereof are incorporatedherein by reference.

When the wireless device is first powered on, the device must acquire asignal from a remote location, such as a base station transceiver system(BTS). A wireless CDMA communication device will typically be receivingpilot signals from a plurality of BTSs. The wireless device will searchfor the signals from the BTSs and will establish a communication linkwith a selected BTS to permit the reception and transmission of data,such as audio signals, over the established communication link. Theselection of a particular BTS and the actual communication between thewireless communication device and the selected BTS are well known in theart and need not be discussed in detail herein.

As discussed in the above-referenced patents, in a CDMA communicationssystem each BTS broadcasts the same pseudo-noise (PN) code pilot signal,but with a different phase offset. The pilot signal can be considered asa rotating phasor of the form:

s(t)=Ae ^((−ωi+φ).)

To acquire the signal, the wireless CDMA device must synchronize withthe phase, φ, and frequency, ω, of the signal transmitted by a BTS. Theobject of a “searcher” process in the wireless device is to find thephase, φ, of the received signal. The searcher uses an estimatedfrequency, ω. If the estimated frequency is not sufficiently close tothe frequency of the pilot, the received signal will not be acquired.

Conventional search modes sequentially conduct a search of all possiblePN phase offsets using a set of hypothetical search parameters. Thesearch parameters may be varied before the next search sequence, orsearch sweep. Search parameters may include a search-slice size, orwindow, a coherent integration length, a non-coherent integrationlength, a presumed frequency error and Walsh and Quasi-OrthogonalFunction (QOF) parameters, and other search parameters. Searchparameters are discussed in more detail in the above-referenced U.S.Pat. No. 5,805,648. Conventional search methods are capable of searchingfor only a single pilot channel during each search sweep. In addition,conventional search methods are capable of using only a single presumedfrequency error during each search sweep.

Conventional search methods perform reasonably well with single channelpilot signals broadcast over a bandwidth of approximately 1.25 MHz, or1×signals. Conventional search methods also perform reasonably well whenthe frequency error range is low. Recently, several CDMA technologies,such as 3×direct spread (3×DS) signals, 3×multi-carrier (3×MC) signalsand orthogonal transmit diversity (OTD) signals, have been developedthat broadcast the pilot signal over broader frequency ranges or inmultiple channels. In addition, the frequency error range in the newerCDMA technologies may be higher than in the 1×signals. Conventionalsearch methods fail to take advantage of newer CDMA broadcasttechnologies. Conventional search methods also have a limited frequencyrange over which the phase of the pilot signal will be detected.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there is a significant need for animproved system and method for acquiring a signal in a wirelessspread-spectrum device. The present invention provides this and otheradvantages, as will be apparent from the following detailed descriptionand accompanying figures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is embodied in a system and method for acquiring asignal in a wireless spread-spectrum device, which provides greaterflexibility than prior art acquisition architectures. In one embodiment,the present invention may be configured to search multiple channels forthe signal during each search sweep. In another embodiment, the presentinvention may be configured to use multiple presumed frequency errorsduring each search sweep. In an exemplary embodiment, the presentinvention may be configured to search multiple channels using multiplepresumed frequency errors during each search sweep.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a CDMA communication deviceimplementing the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of the system of FIG. 1 to establish acommunication link with a remote BTS.

FIG. 3 is a graphic representation of the phase of a pilot signal.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a prior art searcher of awireless device.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a searcher and a searchcontroller implementing the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the concept of frequency binning using four frequencybins.

FIG. 7 illustrates the concept of frequency binning using one frequencybin.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a searcher and a searchcontroller implementing the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides for increased flexibility in conducting asearch sweep for a signal in a spread-spectrum wireless device. Thisallows the user, either manually or automatically, to configure thewireless device to search for the signal based on the operationalconditions of the device.

Although the examples presented herein refer to a CDMA wirelesstelephone system, and more particularly to a system and method ofacquiring a pilot signal in a CDMA wireless telephone system, theprinciples of the present invention are applicable to anyspread-spectrum system.

The present invention is embodied in a system 100 illustrated in thefunctional block of FIG. 1. The system 100 includes a central processingunit (CPU) 102, which controls operation of the system. A memory 104,which may include both read-only memory (ROM) and random-access memories(RAM), provides instructions and data to the CPU 102. A portion of thememory 104 may also include non-volatile random-access memory.

The system 100, which is typically embodied in a wireless communicationdevice, such as a CDMA telephone, also includes a housing 106 thatcontains a transmitter 108 and a receiver 110 to allow transmission andreception of data, such as audio communication, between the system 100and a remote location, such as a BTS 200 (see FIG. 2). The transmitter108 and the receiver 110 may be combined into a transceiver 112. Anantenna 114 is attached to the housing 106 and electrically coupled tothe transceiver 112. The operation of the transmitter 108, receiver 110,and antenna 114 is well-known in the art and need not be describedherein. Although FIG. 1 illustrates the antenna 114 as extending fromthe housing 106, some designs may include an internal antenna that iscontained completely within the housing. The transmitter 108, thereceiver 110, and the antenna 114, however, operate in a conventionalmanner regardless of the location of the antenna.

A data-input/output system 116 is communicatively linked to the system100 for operation by the user in a conventional manner. Thedata-input/output system 116 provides a convenient means by whichdestination telephone numbers, commands, digital data, voice data andother data may be entered. Although FIG. 1 illustrates thedata-input/output system 116 as comprising a microphone 118, a keypad120, a data-input/output connector 122, a speaker 124, and a display126, contained within the housing 106, data may be received andreproduced for the user by other input devices, such as the receiver110, and the like, alone and in various combinations.

The system 100 also includes a searcher 128, which searches for thephase of a pilot signal received from a BTS, and a search controller 130to control operation of the searcher 128. The searcher 128, in responseto control signals from the search controller 130, may be configured tosearch multiple channels using multiple presumed frequency errors. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that the searcher 128 may beimplemented in a variety of ways, including as a separate component,such as a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specificintegrated-circuit (ASIC), or the like.

The search controller 130 is shown as a separate block in the functionalblock diagram of FIG. 1 because it performs specific functions that willbe described in detail below. However, those skilled in the art willappreciate that the search controller 130 may be readily implemented asa series of software instructions placed in the memory 104 and executedby the CPU 102. Thus, minor software modifications to existing hardwarewill allow the implementation of the search controller 130.Alternatively, the search controller 130 may be implemented by aseparate processor, such as a DSP, an ASIC, or the like. As will bediscussed in greater detail below, the search controller 130 mayselectively generate control signals to control the operation of thesearcher 128.

The system may also include other types of wireless systems, such as aGPS system 132, which may also employ the searcher 128 and searchcontroller 130 of the present invention.

Electrical components of the system 100 receive power from a battery134, which is attached to and supported by the housing 106. In anexemplary embodiment, the battery 134 is a rechargeable battery. Inother embodiments, the system 100 may include a connector (not shown)for the connection of an external power source, such as an automobilepower adapter, AC power adapter, or the like.

The various components of the system 100 are coupled together by a bussystem 136 which may include a power bus, control bus, and status signalbus in addition to a data bus. For the sake of clarity, however, thevarious buses are illustrated in FIG. 1 as the bus system 136.

FIG. 2 illustrates the system 100 and a plurality of BTSs 200-206. Thesystem 100 will search for the signals from the BTSs 200-206 overcommunication links 208-214, respectively, and will establish acommunication link with a selected BTS (e.g. BTS 200) to permit thetransmission and reception of data, such as audio signals, over theestablished communication link. Once the signals from the BTS's 200-206are found, the selection of the BTS and the actual communication betweenthe system 100 and the selected BTS are well known in the art and neednot be discussed herein.

As discussed above, the pilot signal can be considered as a rotatingphasor of the form:

s(t)=Ae ^((−ωi+φ).)

FIG. 3 is a representation of the starting time of a pilot signal asconceptual hands 300-302 on a clock. Each BTS broadcasts the same pilotsignal but with a different phase, which can be viewed as a differentstart time or position of a hand 300-302 on a clock. Each hand 300-302represents a pilot signal broadcast by a different BTS. When viewed inthis manner, a 1×signal typically starts at any one of 32,768 chips,which can be viewed as time units on a clock. The goal of a searcher canbe viewed as finding the start time, or chip, for the pilot signalsbroadcast by each of several BTSs and selecting a particular BTS withwhich to establish a communication link. The searcher collects a searchslice of data from the signal, or window 304, and compares it to ahypothetical PN data set. As those skilled in the art can appreciate,the term “window” refers to a selected sample size of chips. A window304, for example, may gather a small set of, by way of example, 64 chipsor a larger set of, by way of example, 256 chips of data. If there is asufficient correlation between window 304 signal data and thehypothetical PN data set, the phase of a pilot signal is acquired.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a conventional searcher 400. Theconventional searcher 400 searches a single channel for pilot signalsbroadcast by a plurality of BTSs (See FIG. 2). A rotator 462 compensatesfor a presumed frequency error by adjusting the phase of the receivedsignal. One skilled in the art will recognize that the rotator 462 maybe implemented using a variety of electronic components. For example, aDSP, a complex multiplier, a cordic rotator, or the like may be used toimplement the rotator 462. Alternatively, a lookup table in a read-onlymemory may be employed, because the result of a given phase shift to agiven received signal is known.

Output data from the rotator 462 is stored in a search data buffer 470at the chip rate until a window of data is collected. The data is thenpaired with a data set generated based on a hypothetical PN pilotsignal, which is generated by a PN generator 479 and stored in a PNbuffer 480. The hypothetical PN pilot signal is based on a set ofhypothetical search parameters, as discussed above. The paired datasignals are then despread by a despreader 482 and processed by an adder484, a coherent accumulator 486, an energy combiner 488, a non-coherentaccumulator 490 and a peak sorter/detector 492, as is known in the priorart. When a sufficient correlation between the paired sampled signaldata and the hypothetical PN pilot signal data exists, peaks will bepresent at certain chips in the result, indicating acquisition of thephase of a pilot signal. The searcher 400 then determines at which chipspeaks were present and the relative strength of any peaks. The detectedpeaks and their relative strengths are stored on a peak list (notshown), which represents BTSs for which the phase of the pilot signalmay have been acquired. The process described above is repeated untilthe pilot signed from several BTSs have been located and stored in theleak list. The wireless communication device then selects a BTS withwhich to establish a communication link based, at least in part, on thepeak list.

One of skill in the art will recognize that the conventional searcher400 may employ a plurality of PN generators and buffers when theoperational speed of the searcher is such that multiple search windowscan be gathered during each cycle of the pilot signal. For example, someconventional searchers can operate at four times the cycle rate of thepilot signal. Thus, the searcher 400 may take advantage of this speeddifference by pairing additional window data sets to additionalhypothetical data sets stored in additional PN buffers. When viewed as aclock (see FIG. 3), the searcher may be able to sample data, forexample, from 1:00 to 2:00, 4:00 to 5:00, 7:00 to 8:00, and 10:00 to11:00. Each sample is then compared to a different hypothetical PN dataset, stored in a different PN buffer. Thus, more than one search sweepmay be conducted at a time. Alternatively, a single search sweep may beconducted at a higher speed. Each search sweep, however, is limited toone channel and one presumed frequency error.

The present invention improves signal acquisition by increasing theflexibility of the searcher 128. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram ofone embodiment of a system 100 employing a searcher 128 of the presentinvention to search for the pilot of a 3×MC input signal. The receiver10 (see FIG. 1) receives a signal in which the pilot signal is present.The pilot signal may be either a single-channel or a multi-channel pilotsignal. FIG. 5 illustrates reception of a 3×MC input signal. In anexemplary embodiment the signal strength is normalized through the useof an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit 150. The AGC circuit 150,which typically includes one or more variable gain amplifiers and asignal strength detection circuit, is well known in the art and need notbe described in greater detail herein.

The received signal is then processed by a filter 152 to separate thesignal into its three component channels. The filter 152 may comprisetwo rotators and three band pass filters. The received signal is runthrough a band pass filter to eliminate the side channels. This providesa center channel output from the filter 152. The frequency of the signalfrom one of the side channels is centered by a rotator, which applies aphase shift to bring that side channel's frequency to the center-channelfrequency. The signal is then passed through a band pass filter. Thisprovides one of the side channel outputs from the filter 152. Theprocess is repeated with the other side channel, producing the otherside channel output. As discussed above, the rotators in the filter 152may be implemented in any number of ways, as is known in the prior art.

The outputs from the filter 152 are provided to the signal routingcircuit 160. The search controller 130 generates control signals tocontrol the operation of the signal routing circuit 160. Based upon thecontrol signals, the signal routing circuit 160 routes the signals to besearched to one or more of a plurality of rotators 162-168. One skilledin the art will recognize that the signal routing circuit 160 may beimplemented in a number of ways. For example, the signal routing circuit160 may consist of a plurality of multiplexer circuits, as shown in FIG.5. When the received pilot signal is a multi-channel signal, the signalrouting circuit 160 may be configured to route any one of the channels(e.g. any of the three outputs from the filter 152) to any one or moreof the plurality of rotators 162-168, based upon control signalsreceived from the search controller 130.

The search controller 130 also generates control signals to control thephase shift introduced by the rotators 162-168 of the signals to besearched for the pilot signal. Based upon control signals received fromthe search controller 130, the rotators 162-168 shift the phase of thereceived signals to compensate for a presumed frequency error, which isan estimate of the difference in frequency between the frequency of theremote device and the signal received from one of the BTSs (e.g. the BTS200). A presumed frequency error may be zero. When multiple rotators162-168 are employed, each rotator can be independently configured tointroduce a different phase shift to compensate for a different presumedfrequency error. As discussed above, the rotators 162-168 may beimplemented in any number of ways, as is known in the prior art.

When a rotator (e.g. rotator 162) shifts the phase of a signal basedupon a presumed frequency error, a “frequency bin” is created. Thefrequency bin is the frequency range around the presumed frequency errorin which detection of a pilot signal, if present, is likely to occur.FIG. 6 illustrates the use of four frequency bins to search for thepilot signal. FIG. 7 illustrates the use of a single frequency bin tosearch for the pilot signal with a presumed frequency error of zero. Themaximum frequency error range for which acquisition of the pilot signalis likely to occur is represented by ΔF_(max). Assuming the frequencyerror range in which acquisition of the pilot signal is likely to occuris the same for each frequency bin employed, the maximum frequency errorrange, ΔF_(max), will be approximately four times larger when fourfrequency bins are employed as shown in FIG. 6 than it is when onefrequency bin is employed as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the likelihood ofacquiring a pilot signal when the frequency error is likely to be highis greatly increased when multiple frequency bins are employed. Thismultiple frequency bin configuration is particularly advantageous whenthe presumed frequency error range is large.

The output from the rotators 162-168 is stored in a plurality ofsearcher data buffers 170-176, which may conveniently be implemented asinput data shift registers. The data buffers 170-176 store the datacontained in the received signals. In one embodiment, the data buffers170-176 are implemented using a single input data shift registerlogically divided into a number of fractional slices corresponding tothe number of desired buffers. In this embodiment, the search controller130 may generate control signals to configure the single data shiftregister into the appropriate number of fractional slices. In anotherembodiment, the data buffers 170-176 are implemented using individualdata shift registers. The implementation of the data buffers 170-176 isa matter of design choice, which may include as a design factor theability to re-use existing hardware of the system 100 and powerconsumption considerations.

A pairing logic circuit 178 pairs data in the data buffers 170-176 withdata in a plurality of PN buffers 180-186. As discussed in more detailbelow, the pairing is based on the desired search sweep configuration.The data in the PN buffers 180-186 correspond to data from hypotheticalPN pilot signals, based on a set of search parameters, as discussedabove. The search controller 130 may generate control signals to controlthe pairing logic circuit 178. One skilled in the art will recognizethat the pairing logic circuit 178 may be implemented in number of ways.For example, the pairing logic circuit 178 may consist of a plurality ofmultiplexer circuits.

The paired data sets are then processed to determine whether the phaseof the pilot signal has been acquired, and if so to establishsynchronization with a signal from a particular BTS (e.g. the BTS 200).As discussed above, methods for processing of the signals are well knownin the prior art and need not be discussed in detail herein. Theprocess, shown in the prior art block diagram of FIG. 4, may be brieflydescribed as combining the energy of each signal pair to detect thepresence of peaks at particular chips. The presence of a peak indicatesthat the phase of a pilot signal broadcast by a BTS (e.g. BTS 200) hasbeen acquired. The searcher 128 maintains a list of peaks from which itselects a BTS with which the system 100 establishes a communicationlink.

The signal routing circuit 160 and the use of multiple rotators 162-168,each allow for greater flexibility than the prior art in configuring thesearcher 128 to conduct a search sweep. When a multi-channel signal isreceived, the improved searcher 128 can search more than one channel ata time for the signal. In addition, when the frequency error range islikely to be high, the improved searcher 128 can acquire a signal over awider frequency range than prior art through the use of multiplefrequency bins.

The number of rotators 162-168, data buffers 170-178, and PN buffers180-186 in a given embodiment is a matter of design choice. An increasein the quantity of a particular component provides for greaterflexibility, but also results in greater costs and power usage. Whilethe system 100 does not require one-to-one correspondence of theparticular components, the quantities of each component are related tothe modes in which the searcher 128 may be configured to operate, asshown by the examples discussed below. The quantity of each componentcan also be selected to take advantage of the speed of the system 100.For example, it the speed of the system 100 is such that four windowsmay be sampled during each cycle of the pilot signal, it may bedesirable to have four rotators 162-168, to take advantage of the systemspeed. Each PN window sample can be independently processed by acorresponding one of the rotators 162-168, to thereby greatly increasethe speed of acquisition.

In an exemplary embodiment, the rotators 162-168 and the data buffers170-178 may be shared with other components of the system 100, such asthe GPS system 132, and may be powered down when not in use. Althoughthe GPS system 132 operates independently of the system 100, the GPSsystem 132 utilizes a large number of rotators. During the initialacquisition of the signal, or whenever the GPS system is not using allof its rotators, the rotators in the GPS system 132 may be allocated foruse as the rotators 162-168 in FIG. 5.

The search controller 130 may be configured to generate control signalsto control the operation of the searcher 128 based on a variety offactors, such as received user-input, the type of signal received,instructions received from a remote location, the success rate of priorsearches, user and default settings, the quality of the connection withthe remote location, the geographical location of the system 100, thepresumed frequency error, available power, and the like and variouscombinations thereof. Those skilled in the art will recognize that thesystem 100 may be configured to generate control signals by the user, ormay be preset to do so at the factory, or some combination thereof.

In an exemplary embodiment, the various components, such as the rotators162-168, data buffers 170-176, and PN buffers 180-186, may each beindividually enabled by the search controller 130 based on theparameters discussed above. Any components that are not enabled by thesearch controller 130 may be disabled and may further be powered down toreduce the current drain on the battery 134 (see FIG. 1).

For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the system 100 can beconfigured for operation with a single pilot channel in what may bereferred to as a Mode 1 search. The search controller 130 generatescontrol signals to operate the system 100 in a particular mode designedto take advantage of these conditions. Thus, the search controller 130may generate control signals to: (1) route the single pilot channelsignal to a single rotator 162; (2) enable a single rotator 162; (3)enable a single data buffer 170; and (4) (by taking advantage of thefaster speed of the searcher 128) pair the data in data buffer 170 withthe hypothetical PN pilot data in each of the PN buffers 180-186.

The advantage of the system 100 is its versatile dynamicallyconfigurable architecture that permits operation of the wireless devicein a number of different operational modes. Table 1, below, summarizesvarious examples modes in which the search controller 130 of theembodiment shown in FIG. 5 may generate control signals to operate thesearcher 128. One skilled in the art will recognize that additionalsearch modes may be employed.

TABLE ONE Rotator/Phase-Shift Presumed Freq. Error Seacher PNBuffer/Hypothetical Plus Offset Data Buffers Parameter Set Pairing ModeR1 R2 R3 R4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 0 Off Off Off Ch 0 Off Off Off 1 2 3 4Single Channel, Single Freq. Bin 2 Single Channel, Four Freq. Bins$\frac{{+ 3}{\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{+ {\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{- {\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{{- 3}{\Delta F}}{4}$

Ch 0 Ch 0 Ch 0 Ch 0 1 1 1 1 3 Single Channel, Two Freq. Bins$\frac{+ {\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{- {\Delta F}}{4}$

Off Off Ch 0 Ch 0 Off Off 1 2 — — 4 Same as Modes 1, 2, 3 with the databuffers getting data from 3xMC Signal the “Best” 3xMC Channel, ChannelB. Single Channel Mode 5.1 3xMC Signal Dual Channel Mode, Two Freq. Bins$\frac{+ {\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{- {\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{+ {\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{- {\Delta F}}{4}$

Ch B1 Ch B1 Ch B2 Ch B2 1 1 1 1 5.2 0 0 0 0 Ch Ch Ch Ch 1 2 1 2 3xMCSignal B1 B1 B2 B2 Dual Channel Mode, One Freq. Bin 6 0 0 0 Off Ch + Ch0 Ch − Off 1 1 1 — 3xMC Signal Three Channel Mode, One Freq. Bin, MayUse Posterior Energy Combining 7.1 Same as Modes 1, 2, 3 with the databuffers getting data from the same input OTD Signal, channel and thesearch parameters configured for OTD signals. Single Antenna Mode 7.2Similar to Modes 5.1 and 5.2, but with the search parameters configuredfor OTD Dual OTD signals. Antenna Mode 7.3 The setup can be similar toMode 7.2, except that the posterior energy OTD Dual combiner isactivated to combine the energies from the two pilots as in Mode 6Antenna Mode for 3xMC. Posterier Energy Combining

Modes 1-3 utilize a single channel but with varying numbers of frequencybins based on the presumed frequency error range. Mode 1, which isdiscussed in the above example, may be implemented when a single channelis to be searched and the frequency error range is presumed to be low.In mode 1, a single channel is searched at high speed with a singlefrequency bin. The frequency bin, illustrated in FIG. 7, covers theentire range of frequencies, ΔF_(max), over which acquisition of thesignal phase, φ, will be attempted.

In Mode 2, a single channel is to be searched, but the frequency erroris presumed to be high. Thus, four frequency bins may be employed, eachcovering a portion of the frequency range to be searched, ΔF_(max). Thesearch speed in mode 2 is lower than in mode 1 because each frequencybin is searched using the same set of remaining search parameters(search parameters other than the presumed frequency error). Thus, whenthe embodiment shown is FIG. 5 is configured to operate in mode 2, thesearch controller 130 generates control signals to: (1) route the singlepilot channel signal to a each of the rotators 162-168; (2) enable eachrotator 162-168 to apply a different phase-adjustment; (3) enable eachdata buffer 170-176; (4) store data based on the same hypotheticalparameter set in each of the PN buffers 180-186; and (5) pair the datain each data buffer 170-176 with the hypothetical PN pilot data in PNbuffers 180-186.

In Mode 3, a single channel is to be searched with a presumed moderatefrequency error. Thus, a moderate search speed with 2 frequency bins isused. When the embodiment shown is FIG. 5 is configured to operate inmode 3, the search controller 130 generates control signals to: (1)route the single pilot channel signal to two of the rotators 162-164;(2) enable two rotators 162-164; (3) enable two data buffers 170-172;and (4) pair the data in each data buffer 170-172 with the hypotheticalPN pilot data in each of PN buffers 180-182, resulting in four datapairs as follows: 170/180, 170/182, 172/180, and 172/182. In Table 1,the channel to be searched in Modes 1, 2 and 3 is referred to as Channel0.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the searcher 128 can receive and processmultiple channels, such as a 3×MC signal processed by the filter 152,using its dynamically configurable architecture. Mode 4 can be used whenonly a single channel of a multi-channel signal is to be searched. Thesystem 100 selects one of the channels for searching. The selection canbe based on which of the channels is “best” according to some criteria.In Table 1, this channel is referred to as Channel B. For example, thechannel with the highest received power can be selected for searching.Thus, Mode 4 can be viewed as a search in Mode 1, 2, or 3, with the bestchannel (i.e. Channel B) viewed as Channel 0. In this mode, the searchcontroller 130 generates control signals to cause the signal routingcircuit 160 to route the selected channel (e.g. Channel B) to theappropriate rotators 162-168.

In mode 5, two channels of a multi-channel signal, such as a 3×MC signalprocessed by the filter 152 as shown in FIG. 5, are to be searched.These selected channels are designated in Table 1 as Channel B1 andChannel B2. As in mode 4, the system 100, may use some criteria todetermine which two channels of a multi-channel signal are to besearched. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a Mode 5 search can beconducted using either a single frequency bin with each channel (e.g.mode 5.2), in which case two sets of search parameters may be employed,or using two frequency bins with each channel (e.g. mode 5.1), in whichcase one set of search parameters may be employed. In mode 5.1, thesearch controller 130 generates control signals to: (1) route the firstselected pilot channel signal (e.g. Channel B1) to rotators 162-164; (2)route the second selected pilot channel signal (e.g. Channel B2) torotators 166-168; (3) enable each rotator 162-168; (4) enable each databuffer 170-176; and (5) pair the data in data buffers 170-176 with thehypothetical PN pilot data in PN buffers 180-186 as follows: 170/180,172/182, 174/184, 176/186, where each PN buffer 180-186 contains thesame hypothetical PN pilot data.

In mode 5.2, the search controller 130 generates control signals to: (1)route the first selected pilot channel signal (e.g. Channel B1) torotators 162-164; (2) route the second selected pilot channel signal(e.g. Channel B2) to rotators 166-168; (3) enable each rotator 162-168;(4) enable each data buffer 170-176; and (5) pair the data in databuffers 170-176 with the hypothetical PN pilot data in PN buffers180-186 as follows: 170/180, 172/182, 174/184, 176/186, where PN buffers180 and 184 contain one set of hypothetical PN pilot data and PN Buffers182 and 186 contain another set of hypothetical PN pilot data.

In mode 6, three channels of a multi-channel signal, such as the 3×MCsignal, are to be searched. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a singlefrequency bin is used and a single set of search parameters is employed.This is because each channel requires a rotator (e.g. one of therotators 162-168) for each frequency bin to be searched, and only fourrotators are present in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. Those skilled inthe art will recognize that an alternative embodiment of the system 100may include more rotators and/or other components (e.g. data buffers).As previously discussed, the actual design implementation is a trade-offbetween search speed and the cost of adding additional circuitcomponents that, inter alia, require electrical power. The system 100may also use posterior energy combining of the three signals. Those ofskill in the art will also recognize that, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 5, the searcher 128 may be configured to simultaneously conduct amode 6 search (e.g. using rotators 162-166) and a mode 1 search (e.g.using rotator 168).

In mode 7, an OTD signal is to be searched. An OTD signal broadcast twopilot signals. The search parameters may need to be adjusted tocorrespond to the parameters for an OTD signal. Otherwise, a mode 7search can be viewed as a mode 4 or mode 5 search. In mode 7.1, only oneof the OTD pilot signals is to be searched for the pilot, thus mode 7.1is similar to mode 4, and the system 100 may be configured as in modes1-3, with the hypothetical PN signal data modified to correspond to dataappropriate for a hypothetical OTD pilot signal.

In mode 7.2, both of the OTD pilot signal channels are to be searchedfor the phase of the pilot signal, thus mode 7.2 is similar to mode 5,and the system may be configured as in modes 5.1 and 5.2, with thehypothetical PN signal data modified to correspond to data appropriatefor a hypothetical OTD pilot signal. In mode 7.3, posterior energycombining of the OTD pilot signals may be employed, as may be done inmode 6 with the 3×MC pilot channels.

It should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, operational modes arediscussed with respect to specific processing components. For example,Mode 3 is described using the rotators 162-164 and the data buffers170-172. However, the flexible system architecture allows the use ofother components in the searcher (e.g. the rotators 166-168 in Mode 3).The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown inFIG. 5 nor to the component selection described for the various modes ofoperation.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of an alternative embodiment of asearcher 128 of the present invention, which may be convenientlyimplemented in any wireless spread-spectrum system. The embodiment inFIG. 8 is designed to take advantage of existing hardware in a wirelessdevice, and in particular to avoid having to add additional hardwaredata shift registers. The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is also designed totake advantage of a searcher 128 that operates at four times the speedof the signal cycle. This embodiment implements four data buffers172-176 as fractional portions of a single input data shift register.Similarly, the despreader 482, adder 484, coherent accumulator 486,non-coherent accumulator 490, and peak sorter/detector 492 are logicallydivided into four fractional components. The pairing logic circuit 178consists of four multiplexers M₁-M₄. The PN buffers 182-186 areimplemented as four-tap buffers. Each of the PN generators 479 can beindependently configured to generate hypothetical PN signal data basedon different set of search parameters.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 also has three additional energycombiners 488 and a combined peak detector/sorter 194. The outputs fromthe four fractional portions of peak detector/sorter 492 and thecombined peak detector/sorter 194 allow the system 100 to track thefrequency bin and signal channel in which a peak is located. Thecombined peak detector/sorter 194, for example, may produce a singlecombined peak list A, if a single channel signal is searched using asingle frequency bin. Alternatively, the combined peak/detector/sorter194 can produce multiple peak lists if desired, for example, a peak listA corresponding to peaks for a first signal channel and frequency bincombination, and a peak list B corresponding to peaks for a secondsignal channel and frequency bin combination, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The embodiment in FIG. 8 also has a posterior energy combiner 196, whichmay combine in some fashion the energy from each of the channels of amulti-channel signal, such as a 3×MC or OTD signal, if desired.

Table 2, below, summarizes various examples modes in which the searchcontroller 130 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 may generate controlsignals to operate the searcher 128. One skilled in the art willrecognize that additional search modes may be employed.

TABLE TWO Rotator/Phase-Shift Presumed Freq. Error Seacher PNBuffer/Hypothetical Plus Offset Data Buffers Parameter Set Pairing ModeR1 R2 R3 R4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 0 0 0 0 Ch 0 Ch 0 Ch 0 Ch 0 1 2 3 4 SingleChannel, Single Freq. Bin 2 Single Channel, Four Freq. Bins$\frac{{+ 3}{\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{+ {\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{- {\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{{- 3}{\Delta F}}{4}$

Ch 0 Ch 0 Ch 0 Ch 0 1 1 1 1 3 Single Channel, Two Freq. Bins$\frac{+ {\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{+ {\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{- {\Delta F}}{4}$

$\frac{- {\Delta F}}{4}$

Ch 0 Ch 0 Ch 0 Ch 0 1 2 1 2

In mode 1, the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is configured to search asingle channel using a single frequency bin and four sets ofhypothetical PN signal data. This mode takes advantage of the fact thatthe searcher 128 can complete four cycles during each cycle of thesignal. The search controller 130 generates control signals to: (1)enable the energy combiners 488; (2) disable the posterior energycombiner 196; (3) route a single channel signal to be searched to eachof the four rotators 162-168; (4) introduce the same phase offset witheach rotator 162-168; (5) generate four independent sets of hypotheticalPN signal data; (6) pair the data in the data buffers 170-176 with thedata in the first tap of each of the corresponding PN buffers 180-186during the first cycle of the searcher 128; (7) pair the data in thedata buffers 170-176 with the data in the second tap of each of thecorresponding PN buffers 180-186 during the second cycle of the searcher128; (6) pair the data in the data buffers 170-176 with the data in thethird tap of each of the corresponding PN buffers 180-186 during thethird cycle of the searcher 128; and (9) pair the data in the databuffers 170-176 with the data in the fourth tap of each of thecorresponding PN buffers 180-186 during the fourth cycle of the searcher128. The paired data is processed by the searcher 128 to produce thepeak lists 1-4 and the peak list A.

In mode 2, the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is configured to search asingle channel using four frequency bins and one set of hypothetical PNsignal data. The search controller 130 generates control signals to: (1)enable the energy combiners 488; (2) disable the posterior energycombiner 196; (3) route a single channel signal to be searched to eachof the four rotators 162-168; (4) introduce a different phase offsetwith each rotator 162-168, thus creating four different frequency bins;(5) generate four identical sets of hypothetical PN signal data; (6)sequentially pair the data in the data buffers 170-176 with the data inthe each tap of each of the corresponding PN buffers 180-186. The paireddata is processed by the searcher 128 to produce the peak lists 1-4 andthe peak lists A and B.

In mode 3, the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is configured to search asingle channel using two frequency bins and two sets of hypothetical PNsignal data. The search controller 130 generates control signals to: (1)enable the energy combiners 488; (2) disable the posterior energycombiner 196; (3) route a single channel signal to be searched to eachof the four rotators 162-168; (4) introduce a certain phase offset withrotators 162 and 164, and to introduce a different phase offset withrotators 166 and 168, thus creating two different frequency bins; (5)generate two independent sets of hypothetical PN signal data and storingthe first set of hypothetical PN signal data in PN buffers 180 and 184,and the second set of hypothetical PN signal data in PN buffers 182 and186; (6) sequentially pair the data in the data buffers 170-176 with thedata in each tap of each of the corresponding PN buffers 180-186. Thepaired data is processed by the searcher 128 to produce the peak lists1-4 and the peak lists A and B.

One of skill in the art will recognize that the embodiment shown in FIG.8 can also be configured to operate in other modes, such as modes 4-7discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 5. When posterior energycombining is desired in modes 6 and 7.3, the search controller 130generates control signals to disable the energy combiners 488 and enablethe posterior energy combiner 196.

It should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, operational modes arediscussed with respect to specific processing components. For example,Mode 3 is described using a particular phase shift with the rotators162-164 and a different phase shift with the rotators 166-168. However,the flexible system architecture allows the use of other components inthe searcher (e.g. using a particular phase shift with the rotators 162and 166 and a different phase shift with the rotators 164 and 168). Thepresent invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown inFIG. 8 nor to the component selection described for the various modes ofoperation.

It is to be understood that even though various embodiments andadvantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoingdescription, the above disclosure is illustrative only, and changes maybe made in detail, yet remain within the broad principles of theinvention. Therefore, the present invention is to be limited only by theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A searcher to search for a received signal in aspread-spectrum system, the searcher comprising: a reconfigurable signalrouting circuit to route the received signal; a plurality of rotators toadjust the phase of the received signal and thereby generate aphase-adjusted signal; a plurality of searcher data buffers to store thephase-adjusted signal; a generator to generate a pseudo-noise (PN)signal; a PN buffer to store the generated PN signal; a pairing logiccircuit to pair the stored phase-adjusted signal with the storedgenerated PN signal; and a search controller to generate control signalsto control operation of the signal routing circuit, the rotators and thepairing logic circuit.
 2. The searcher of claim 1 wherein the searchcontroller also generates control signals to control operation of thegenerator.
 3. The searcher of claim 1 wherein the search controllerfurther generates control signals to control operation of the pluralityof searcher data buffers.
 4. The searcher of claim 3 wherein therotators and searcher data buffers are selectively enabled and thereceived signal is a single channel signal and the search controllergenerates control signals: to enable one of the plurality of rotators;to route the received signal to the enabled rotator; to adjust the phaseof the received signal; to enable one of the searcher data buffers; tostore the phase-adjusted signal in the enabled searcher data buffer; andto pair the phase-adjusted signal stored in the enabled searcher databuffer with the PN signal stored in the PN buffer.
 5. The searcher ofclaim 1 wherein the phase adjustment applied by one of the plurality ofrotators is zero.
 6. The searcher of claim 1 wherein each of theplurality of rotators applies a different phase adjustment to thereceived signal.
 7. The searcher of claim 1 wherein the plurality ofsearcher data buffers is comprised of an input data shift register. 8.The searcher of claim 1 wherein the plurality of searcher data buffersis comprised of a plurality of input data shift registers.
 9. Thesearcher of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of generators togenerate a plurality of PN signals and a plurality of PN buffers tostore the plurality of generated PN signals.
 10. The searcher of claim 9wherein each of the plurality of PN buffers stores an identicalgenerated PN signal.
 11. The searcher of claim 1 wherein the receivedsignal is a multi-channel signal and the search controller generatescontrol signals to route a channel of the multi-channel signal to one ofthe plurality of rotators.
 12. The searcher of claim 11 wherein thesearch controller generates control signals to route another channel ofthe multi-channel signal to another one of the plurality of rotators.13. The searcher of claim 1, further comprising a filter to process thereceived signal into a multi-channel signal wherein the searchcontroller generates control signals to route a channel of themulti-channel signal to one of the plurality of rotators.
 14. Thesearcher of claim 13 wherein the search controller generates controlsignals to route another channel of the multi-channel signal to anotherone of the plurality of rotators.
 15. The searcher of claim 1 whereinthe spread-spectrum communication system is a code division multipleaccess system.
 16. The searcher of claim 1 wherein the signal routingcircuit comprises a plurality of multiplexer circuits.
 17. The searcherof claim 1 wherein the pairing logic circuit comprises a plurality ofmultiplexer circuits.
 18. The searcher of claim 1 wherein at least oneof the plurality of rotators is shared with another component of thesystem.
 19. The searcher of claim 1 wherein at least one of theplurality of searcher data buffers is shared with another component ofthe system.
 20. The searcher of claim 1 wherein the received signal is amulti-channel signal with each channel of the multi-channel signalcontaining signal energy, further comprising a posterior energy combinerto selectively combine the energy of the channels of the multi-channelsignal.
 21. The searcher of claim 1 wherein the received signal is apilot signal.
 22. The searcher of claim 1 wherein the received signal isa multichannel pilot signal.
 23. The searcher of claim 1 wherein thereceived signal is a global position system signal.
 24. A searcher tosearch for a single channel received signal in a spread-spectrum system,the searcher comprising: a signal routing circuit to route the receivedsignal; a plurality of rotators to adjust the phase of the receivedsignal and thereby generate a plurality of phase-adjusted signals; aplurality of searcher data buffers to store the plurality ofphase-adjusted signals; a plurality of generators to generate aplurality of pseudo-noise (PN) signals; and a plurality of PN buffers tostore the plurality of generated PN signals; wherein the system isdynamically configurable to independently apply a phase-adjustment witheach of the plurality of rotators, to independently generate theplurality of generated PN signals, and to independently pair thephase-adjusted signals stored in the plurality of searcher data bufferswith the PN signals stored in the plurality of PN buffers.
 25. Asearcher to search for a multi-channel received signal in aspread-spectrum system, the searcher comprising: a signal routingcircuit to route the channels of the received signal; a plurality ofrotators to adjust the phase of the channels of the received signal andthereby generate a plurality of phase-adjusted signals; a plurality ofsearcher data buffers to store the plurality of phase-adjusted channelsignals; a plurality of generators to generate a plurality ofpseudo-noise (PN) signals; and a plurality of PN buffers to store theplurality of generated PN signals; wherein the system is dynamicallyconfigurable to independently route the channels of the received signalto any of the plurality of rotators, to independently apply aphase-adjustment with each of the plurality or rotators, toindependently generate the plurality of generated PN signals, and toindependently pair the phase-adjusted channel signals stored in theplurality of searcher data buffers with the PN signals stored in theplurality of PN buffers.